Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley Returns to Music With 1st Album in Nearly 20 Years

At 84, the Righteous Brothers legend overcomes throat cancer and loss to release ‘Straight From the Heart,’ a country ballad collection.

Bill Medley (R) and Bobby Hartfield of the Righteous Brothers perform at the 18th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City on March 10, 2003. Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Bill Medley, one half of the musical duo Righteous Brothers, is set to release his first album in nearly two decades. His latest work, “Straight From the Heart,” comes after a battle with throat cancer that nearly took his ability to sing.

Diagnosed in 2020, Medley underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth. Fortunately, the procedure preserved his vocal cords. “That was an incredibly scary thing to go through,” he told The Guardian. “If I lost my voice, I would be devastated.”